The Application
We are always looking for motivated and charismatic graduates and students who want to take on responsibility and take the next step in their development.
We would also be happy to inform you in advance about the oppurtunities available to you at IPS. Just get in touch with us!
Unsolicited applications are expressly welcome.
The Doctorate at the IPS
The doctorate is the highest academic degree. The purpose of the doctorate is to demonstrate the ability to work independently in the context of a thematically limited field of research. To hold a doctorate is still something of an exception in Germany. Only 1.4% of 25 to under 65 year-olds have successfully completed a doctorate in this country. The academic degree of Doktor-Ingenieur (Dr.-Ing. for short) was introduced by Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1899. Out of consideration for the sensitivities of the classical universities, a Latinised doctoral degree was dispensed with and the German spelling with the hyphen was used instead. But that is not the only special feature of the Dr.-Ing. degree!
The core of the doctorate is one's own independent and original research performance, which contributes significantly to the advancement of knowledge in the respective subject. The individual performance of the doctoral candidate is proven at the IPS by a written dissertation (monograph). The doctoral candidate writes this in a self-defined subject area in the context of the analysis and design of production systems or methods of industrial engineering. The doctorate takes place in parallel with work as a research assistant at the IPS or at partner companies (industrial doctorate).
The paths to a doctorate
The time as a doctoral student at the IPS combines, over a period of five to six years, didactic training within the framework of teaching (lecturing and exercises with several hundred students), applying for and working on highly innovative topics (artificial intelligence, human-technology interaction, etc.) and transfer to industry at shop floor and (top) management level. Furthermore, during this time you will learn self and time management, leadership tasks, how to express yourself rhetorically and in writing in a way that is appropriate for the target group, as well as how to structure your own work and new ideas and represent them to various interest groups.
Doctorate at the IPS
The way is the goal!
At IPS, you don't do your doctorate in an ivory tower - on the contrary: those who do their doctorate with us always work closely with companies, from SMEs to large corporations and across a wide range of industries. We draw inspiration for our research from practical issues and transfer our results into practical application. Through your scientific work, you will better understand fundamental interrelationships and discover how individual subject areas interact. At the same time, you will learn the "language of industry" and be able to hold your own in demanding, high-risk projects in a managerial capacity. Working at the institute also gives you the opportunity to exchange important experiences with other doctoral students and to discuss ideas at a high level in mutual sparring.
What should I bring with me for the PhD?
The doctorate is not a foregone conclusion and requires, in addition to a university degree in engineering, computer science or mathematics & statistics with excellent grades, a high degree of discipline, initiative and stamina!
What happens after the doctorate?
Without exception, our alumni are entrusted with demanding tasks at renowned companies. Often, networks and contacts are already established in the course of work at the institute, which are very valuable for your subsequent professional life in science or business.
If you are interested in supporting our team, we look forward to receiving your application!
External Doctorate
The way is the goal!
You are also welcome at the IPS with an external doctorate. Just get in touch with us! Then we can deal with you and your topic individually.
Promotion Development Process
In principle, the requirements of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at TU Dortmund apply to doctoral studies. For the doctorate at the IPS, we have defined our doctoral development process. It serves as a guideline for all persons involved in the development of the dissertation and defines important milestones on the way to the doctorate (Figure 1).
Content and responsibilities, required documents, milestone content and feedback loops are defined for each phase. In addition to the development of the dissertation topic, the PEP also supports the development of the doctoral candidate him/herself and helps the institute's managers to accompany and support the process.
The Dissertation
All important information on the dissertation, such as the doctoral regulations or a guide to the doctorate, can be found on the Hompage of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering.
You can find doctoral theses that have already been completed at our institute here.